Cable operated curtain construction



0a. 30, 1951 Y. w. IEHRET CABLE OPERATED CURTAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 19, 1948 INVENTOR. 721 6 Wffmzfi, BY

Patented Oct. 30, 1951 CABLE QPERATED CURTAIN CONSTRUCTION Yale W. Ehret', Elkhart, Ind., assignor to The Adlake Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 19, 1948, Serial No. 9,589

Claims. (01. 160-279) This invention is concerned with improvements in cable curtain fixtures.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved roller curtain installation particularly adapted for use in a railway passenger car or an automobile bus wherein the curtain is mounted in a window frame having opposite side guide channels which receive the ends of an apron assembly secured on the bottom of the curtain and wherein the position of the bottom of the curtain is adjustably controlled by engagement of the apron with a pair of cables, each cable having one end secured to the window frame adjacent the top of one side guide channel and the other end secured to the frame adjacent the bottom of the opposite side guide channel and each cable extending from its upper end downwardly along the adjacent side guide channel then through a longitudinal recess provided in the apron and down along the opposite side guide channel to the other end.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide in a curtain installation of the type described an improved curtain apron assembly which is streamlined, which does not require endwise threading of the cables, and which is provided at its ends with cable guiding end members having a pile fabric on the outer surface thereof for engagement with the side guide channels.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a curtain installation of the type described a curtain apron assembly which is readily and economically manufactured from extruded metal sections, which is adapted to be quickly assembled for initial installation and disassembled for subsequent repair or replacement of parts and which is provided with improved bearing surfaces for engagement with the cables at the ends'to reduce wear on the cables and provide smooth operation.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a description of the form of curtain installation which is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a curtain installation which incorporates therein the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 33 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a detail of one end of the apron assembly with portions broken away, and

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of one 2 end of the apron assembly with portions broken away.

The form of the curtain installation which is shown in the drawings comprises a curtain l0 installed in a window frame II which is secured in an aperture in the wall of a vehicle such as an automobile bus. The window frame ll comprises a bottom sill l3, a top header l4 and side frame members l5 which include oppositely disposed guide channels It. The window frame ll supports a conventional sash unit (not shown) on its outer side. The curtain 10 is arranged to be raised and lowered adjacent the inner side of the sash.

' The curtain Ill is attached to a roller l! which is mounted on conventional brackets (not shown) arranged in the ends of the header M. The bottom end I8 of the curtain l0 supports a transversely arranged apron assembly [9 having its,

ends projecting into the oppositely disposed channels 16 and receiving a pair of cables 20 and 2|.

Each of the cables 20 and 2| is attached at its upper end to opposite side guide channels [6 and each cable extends downward along the adjacent side guide channel to the apron 19, then through the apron I9 and down along the opposite side guide channel, being attached at the bottom of the channel. With this arrangement the bottom end l8 of the curtain I0 is adjusted in raised or lowered position by frictional engagement of the cables 20 to 21 with the curtain apron IS.

A top end anchor plate 22 is provided for each cable which consists of a plate portion 23 having an elongated aperture 24 for receiving a screw 25 to secure it in adjusted relation on the base 26 of the channel it and a cable attaching portion 21 having an outwardly opening vertical slot aperture 32 in which the end of the cable is secured by an enlarged head 33 or the like.

The curtain apron assembly [9 comprises complementary or mating outer and inner members 34 and 35, respectively, which are preferably formed from extruded aluminum sections. flhe The stop member 30 extends I curtain in clamping engagement. Immediately'm' below the recess 39 an inwardly projecting spacerrib 40 of substantial thickness extends axially. of the member intermediate the ends thereof, being cut away at each end4l to accommodate an end assembly 42.

The apron member 35 which forms the inner portion of the apron assembly |9'-includes -a relatively wide plate-like web portion 43 provided at its bottom edge withan inwardly directed flange 44 which is complementary to and abuts with thefla'nge3l on the'member'34 when the" members are in assembled relation. The apron" member 35 is provideda'long'its topmarginwith a thickened section '45"and"a"longitudinallyex tending curved recess 46," the latter cooperating with the recess 39 in'themember-34to'receivethe end'of the-curtain I85 The endassembly 42 comprises abase plate '41 having an inturned'fiange 48 along its lateral edge'anda pair of semi-circular bearingmembers 49 11050 which are positioned on the inner "surface of the plate-"41: The" curved 'surfacesbf' bearingmembers 49 and-50 are in opposed-relation and provide bearing surfaces for"the'cables v 20 and 2|, respectively. The base-plateand bearjng members 49"and 59 may be integr'allyformed orsecured together 'by rivets '5 I which may also securethebaseplate 4-! in proper position 'on the inner face of the web portion 36 of the apron :member 34; The end fixture-42 extends beyond'w' "the end of the apron IS-andprojects into the channel Hi, the inturned flange 48 being spaced :a sufiicientdistance from the-bearing blocks' 49 :a-nd 50 to accommodate the cablesZD-andZ-l. The bearing blocks-49 to- 55 'arepreferablyprovided with side flanges 52, 53, respectively, which ex tend over the curved bearing edgesof the blocks and provide bearing grooves or channels for the' cables 20 to 2 I.

A" vertically extending bumper member '54 '0f rubber or similar resilient materia'his attached to the flange--48 with its-ends extending above and belowthetop and bottom'edges of-the base plate-'41. A- U-shaped channel of=relatively thin materialwhich is covered with a pilefabric 55 5B-is secured in encompassing relation over the laterally projecting'portion of the end assembly- 42 with the pile fabric-extending into-engage ment with the surfaces of the opposed walls of the channel It. The members "54 "and 55 may be conveniently secured'to the flange 48 by screws I 51.

The apron members 34 and 35 are preferably" secured inassembled relation bymeansof screws 58 spaced along thelength thereof which ex= tend through holes' provided in theweb por tion 43 of member 35 and engage in threaded" engagement in mating holes provided in the rib" formation 40ofmember 34'. The ends of 'the' apron members 34 and'35 are preferably further 170" connected by screws '59 "extending'through holes in the member 35 and 'engagingin' threaded relation inholesBil-provided in the end assembly members 42. r While the'inventionhas-beenillustrated as ap= 847 plied to railway car and bus installations, it will be understood that it is not limited to such installations. It may be employed wherever a retractable curtain is used and it is desirable to be able to readily raise and lower the bottom of the curtain. The details of construction and the materials referred to'are intended as examples'only. 'Other details of construction and other materials may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1..In a fixture adapted for attachment to the movable end of a cable operated curtain, com- Dlementary plate members secured together in spaced relation, said plate members having longitudinal rib formations which define a, passagewaybetween said plates for receiving therethrough the cables for said curtain, and metal guide members for said cables, secured at one end to said plate members, said rib formations being cut away at their ends to receive "said guide members, said guide members having 'curved'bear'= ing'surf aces engaged'by'said cables as they emerge from'said passageway, said'guide members having the endsthereof extending outwardly of said curved'bearing surfaces and a pile fabric cover ing the *outwardlyextending ends of said guide members." 1 2. In a cable operatedcurtainfixture adapted" for attachment tothe movable end of the cur-" tain, complementarymembers having inwardly directed longitudinally extending means defining a pluralityof longitudinallydirected recesses in? said fixture Whensaid members are in'assemble'd relation; elongated'means inone of said recesses" engaging inwlamping relation theend of the curtain and another one'of said recesses receiv ing the operating cables for 'saidcurt'ain there through; and cable guide member having pro jecting end portions secured in the ends of said complementary members; each of said guide members having a channel-shaped pile fabric covered element removably positioned over the projectingendporti'on thereof. 3.In' a cable operated curtain constructiom said curtainbein'g mounted'in'" a windowrrame-' having side guide channels, a bead rormation'cn" the movable end of the'curtain; a fixture com prising complementary front and back members; having inwardly directed rib-like members pro viding a pluralityof'passageways between"'said front and back members'when they arednassembled: relation, the uppermost one of said passagewaysreceiving said beadformation to clamp said "fixture to said curtain, another one of said" passageways receiving the operatingcables for said curtain thereth'rough,'and end guide mem bers projecting laterally from'the ends of saidpassageway'for engagement by said cables as they 1 emerge from 'said'last mentioned passageway; said cablespassing'in'opposite vertical directions from said guide members, each of said'guide members having 'a pile-fabric coveredouter portion for sitio'ningthe'fixture iri'sliding relation in 'thejsid' I guide channels of the frame.

4.In'a fixture attachable to the movable end of a cable operated curtain; complementary 111cm bers having inwardly directed longitudinally ex' tending members defining a plurality "of :lon'gitudinally directed recesses'i'n'said fixture when said" complementary. members are in assembled relation, the uppermost one'of said reces's'es 're ceiv'ingin clamping'relationthe end of the curtain and another one of 'saidrece's'ses' receiving the operating cables for said" curtain therethrough, and cable guide members secured at the ends of said cable receiving recess, each of said guide members comprising a plate-like base member provided with opposed upper and lower bearing surfaces for the cables and a projecting edge provided with an inturned flange spaced outward- 1y of said bearing surfaces, a pile fabric covered channel member encompassing the projecting portion of said base member and a bumper block having its ends extending above and below said base member, said channel member and said bumper block being secured to said inturned flange.

5. In a fixture adapted for connection to the movable end of a cable operated curtain, said our- 5 the ends of said passageway for engagement of said cables with said curved surfaces as said cables emerge from said passageway and pass in opposite vertical direction and said guide assemblies having other portions extending beyond said curved surfaces and provided with an end encompassing pile fabric adapted to engage in the adjacent side guide channel of the window frame.

YALE W. EHRET.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 510,590 Dreyfus Dec. 12, 1893 583,365 Forsyth May 25, 1897, 612,606 Forsyth Oct. 18, 1898 742,776 Emery Oct. 27, 1903 1,002,360 Bauer Sept. 5, 911 1,919,013 Dunn July 18, 1933 

